P. K. Yonge Developmental Research School is bringing a twist of New York City to Gainesville this weekend.
The school, located at 1080 SW 11th St., is putting on “In the Heights” for its spring musical and is one of the first schools in the country to do so, said school play director Carrie Kelsey.
The Tony Award-winning musical is based in Washington Heights, a predominantly Dominican-American neighborhood in New York City, and follows the characters through three days in their lives.
“The students have been begging to do it for years,” Kelsey said.
She said the production, which costs about $40,000, is the school’s only play for the year.
It was completely funded through fundraisers, donations and ticket sales.
In January, students traveled to Washington Heights during P.K. Yonge’s annual New York City trip. While there, some attended a Q-and-A session with Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of the musical.
Raphael Llana, an 18-year-old P.K. Yonge senior, auditioned in September for the part of Usnavi De La Vega, the narrator and main character.
Llana said he can relate to his character because of their similar Hispanic backgrounds.
“Everything he talks about I’ve heard before, tasted before and smelled before,” he said. “He’s very intricate, and he doesn’t think like everyone else in Washington Heights does, which is how I feel here.”
The show will run Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
It will also continue to run next weekend. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for everyone else.
Darielis Garlarza, Belle Kissinger and Amanda Barwick, students at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, sing at a dress rehearsal.
